STEWART-HOUSTON COUNTIES, Tenn. — Moderate snow amounts and ample preparations resulted in very few problems last week as the bi-county area was hit by powerful Winter Storm Jonas, which caused havoc from the Mississippi River to Washington and New York City.

"I think all the citizens heeded the warnings," said Stewart County Mayor Rick Joiner, who added that no wrecks were reported in the county between Jan. 22 and 23. "Also, the amount of snow we received was nothing like the Weather Service thought we'd get. We were very, very fortunate."

Snow accumulation was in the 4- to 6-inch range, with the higher amounts recorded in the western portion of the county.

Generally, the amount was about the same in Houston County.

"I measured about 5 inches at a few places," said Houston County Emergency Management Agency Director David Hardin. "Of course, there was a little more in some spots and a little more in others."

Hardin said only a few minor wrecks were reported in Houston County during the height of the storm.

Most main routes were cleared of snow by Saturday, though Highway 147 still had some snow and ice spots on the west end of the county, he said.

"The sun (on Jan. 23) really helped the crews out," Hardin said. "Some of the back roads are clear, while some are partially clear, and some have had no attention yet."

Stewart County

"The sun has done more than anything we have done," Stewart County Highway Supervisor Gary Page said on Jan, 23. "Mother Nature has really helped us on this one."

Page welcomes any help since he has four trucks and drivers to clear 404 miles of roads in the county.

The road crews were busy even before the Jan. 22 storm, since a precursor storm dropped an inch or so of snow across the county on Wednesday, Jan. 20. Page said between the two storms, he and the crew had only about 16 hours rest.

"We are averaging 20-hour days," he said. "We'll go home and get a few hours sleep then get back out there."

They had used nearly 300 tons of salt and 400 tons of gravel chips for both storms, he said.

Director of Schools Leta Joiner showed her appreciation for the crew's efforts by dropping off a couple of pots of soup, two large cornbread cakes and a cobbler to help keep them going.

"Ms. Leta is good to us," Page said, adding that it wasn't the first time she has treated them.

On Jan. 22, Stewart County Emergency Management Agency Director Clint Mathis set up at the North Stewart Fire/EMS station, rather than at his Dover office as the snow of Winter Storm Jonas continued to pile up.

“We are actually staffing two of our fire stations (with ambulances) today so we can have a more timely response if needed,” he said. “So we are here, and we are prepared.”

County Mayor Rick Joiner, who also is deputy fire chief, said emergency crews had made a couple of minor runs earlier in the morning, and added that on Jan. 23, EMS made a couple more minor runs.

Under such conditions, two trucks were dispatched for the extra manpower.

“These ambulances; you can’t get them off the road at all,” he said. “So the extra truck just insures that we can get to where we are needed.”

Sheriff Deryk Wyatt said deputies have been patrolling the county’s roads, searching for stranded motorists, but before noon on Jan. 22, none had been reported.

“It looks like everybody took the advice to stay at home,” Wyatt said. “There’s not a lot of traffic out, which we are pleased about.”

The sheriff said he has been patrolling the west end of the county, which he estimated as having about 6 inches of accumulation.

“The state and county road crews have been out plowing the roads, and they have been doing a great job,” he said.

Mathis agreed that crews were doing a good job, “but the snow was recovering it not long after they get it cleared.”

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It was anticipated earlier this week, when Houston and Stewart counties received their second round of snow, that today's winter mix would bring much more accumulation.

That seems to be the case in Erin, where Mayor Paul Bailey is walking around downtown, checking the sidewalks and streets.

Some business owners in downtown Erin are attempting to shovel the snow from their sidewalks, even as it continues to fall.(Photo: Mayor Paul Bailey/Submitted)

"It's snowy," Bailey said. "It's kind of bad. The main road downtown is cleared, as the (Houston County Highway Department) has been working on it. Side roads still seem to be covered, but the are still out plowing."

Bailey said it everything in the area seems to be shut down, from schools to city and county government. He added that court was even postponed this morning.

"Some sidewalks have been cleaned, but a lot haven't," Bailey said adding that the county used inmate assistance to take care of some of the sidewalks, and that Mitchum Rexall Pharmacy is still open in case people need their medications regardless of the weather.

"Unless you need to get out," Bailey said. "I think it's always better and less risk to your health and property to stay in unless you need to be out."

Houston County Highway Superintendent George Dew said the snow was coming down pretty good, and they were indeed doing some scraping and salting.

"I haven't had to close any roads down yet, but they are slick and only getting slicker," he said. "People are staying indoors so the traffic isn't bad."

Melissa Barker, County Archivist, doesn't have to worry about the streets, since her office has been closed for the day. She, instead, is preparing a pot of homemade vegetable soup and watching her dog, Billy, play in the snow at her Tennessee Ridge home.

Melissa Barker of Tennessee Ridge said her dog enjoys playing in the powder.(Photo: Melissa Barker/Submitted)

"I just came in from taking the dog out and I measured the snow," Barker said. "We have two and a half inches so far in Tennessee Ridge."

The two and a half inches beginning to fall outside of Melissa Barker's Tennessee Ridge home.(Photo: Melissa Barker/Submitted)

Stay with us for more updated information as the day continues. Submit your photos of the snow, kids or pets playing in snow or yourself dealing with the yet-slight accumulation to jdexter@gannett.com.